Former Beatle 'undermines' climate change talks

Sir Paul McCartney's brings his campaign to eat less meat to parliament next week amid claims that it 'undermines' the climate change movement.

The former Beatle appears at a major Brussels hearing on Global Warming and Food Policy: Less Meat = Less Heat in parliament's main chamber on 3 December.

UN climate change chief Dr Rajendra Pachauri and McCartney, the founder of Meat Free Monday, have both accepted an invitation to speak. The UN specialist on the right to food Olivier De Schutter will also participate in this hearing, organised by British deputy Edward McMillan-Scott.

McCartney's claims have been rubbished by some who say that targeting meateaters in the fight against climate change alienates ordinary people and will not save the planet on its own.

They point out that agriculture plays an important part in the economy of developing countries.

Nick Herbert, the shadow environment secretary in the UK, said McCartney's actions could undermine the climate change movement for his own "political agenda."

McCartney, however, received further backing from the British government and top scientists for his initiative.

A report called Health and Climate Change has asked for a reduction of 30 per cent in the number of farm animals to combat climate change and improve Britons' health. 

Sponsored by the department of health, the report was published in the Lancet. 

"Livestock production causes more greenhouse gases - 18 per cent  - than all transport - 13 per cent.  Too much meat is harmful to health and this report proves it", explained McMillan-Scott.
 
"It is now common to see fish and fish products labelled as to their sustainability. The same should apply to meat."
 
He said the UN food and agricultural organisation's major report "Livestock's Long Shadow" demonstrated in 2006 that meat production is much less efficient in the use of various inputs, including water, and very intensive emissions of greenhouse gases as compared to vegetable equivalent.
 
The economist Lord Stern, author of a major report on the economic impact of climate change, recently said, "Meat is a wasteful use of water and creates a lot of greenhouse gases.  It puts enormous pressure on the world's resources.  A vegetarian diet is better".
 
Looking ahead to the Copenhagen summit, McMillan-Scott warned, "We cannot afford to fail in Copenhagen. Future generations will never forgive us if we destroy their planet. 

"The EU has led the way in international climate policy, showing great ambition in the negotiations over a treaty. We must now press for a deal that secures a brighter future for us all. Although the decision by president Obama to attend the summit is good news, more American action will be needed".
 
He said MEPs will play a leading role in shaping the EU's international moves to slow climate change.

"As a legislative body, parliament is thoroughly examining the changing environment with respect to agriculture, food and development policies.  Earlier this year it published the results of a special temporary committee of inquiry into climate change.

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